₦airaland Forum

The most expensive thing in Nigeria is not a car.

It's not knowing what the car ACTUALLY costs.

June 2022. My younger brother called me. Excited. Almost shaking.

He'd just paid ₦16.8 million for a 2016 Camry.

"Clean title. Family friend dealer. Just landed last week."

I was happy for him. Genuinely.

Then I asked for the VIN.

If you don't know, a VIN is a 17-character code on every car. Think of it like the car's BVN – unique, permanent, tracks everything.

I plugged that VIN into Copart, which is the largest auto auction platform in the United States.

Copart is publicly traded on NASDAQ. They connect global buyers and sellers, processing over 4 million transactions each year.

Same car. Same VIN. Sold 9 weeks earlier.

Winning bid: $4,350.

I did the math right there on my phone.

Shipping a car via RoRo from the US to Lagos typically costs around $1,350. The dealer probably paid around $1,600-$1,800 for shipping since SUVs and certain routes cost more.

On average, clearing a Tokunbo car in Nigeria costs between ₦2.5 million to ₦3 million.
So let's be generous. Let's give this dealer EVERY benefit of the doubt:

Car (Copart bid): $4,350 Copart fees: $650 Shipping to Lagos: $1,800 Total USD: $6,800

At the exchange rate back then (around ₦620/$), that's ₦4,216,000.

Customs + clearing: ₦3,000,000 (generous estimate).

Minor reconditioning: ₦200,000.

Dealer's TOTAL landed cost: approximately ₦7,416,000.

Let's even round up to ₦8 million for comfort.

My brother paid ₦16.8 million.

The "family friend" pocketed roughly ₦8.8 million.

On ONE car.

When I showed him the math, he went silent for about 40 seconds.

Then he said something that changed the way I think about everything:

"Why didn't you teach me this before I paid?"

That question has lived in my chest since 2022.

Now let me show you why it's even WORSE in 2026.

The current market price for a foreign-used 2016 Toyota Camry in Nigeria sits around ₦15,825,000. Dealers in Abuja and Lagos are listing them anywhere from

₦18,500,000 to ₦19,500,000 for XLE trims.
Meanwhile, the same car on Copart? Clean-title 2016 Camrys regularly sell for $3,000-$5,000.

Let me do the 2026 math for you.

Copart winning bid: $4,000 Copart buyer fees: $600 Shipping (RoRo to Lagos): $1,400 Total USD: $6,000

The current official exchange rate is approximately ₦1,363.83 per dollar.

The parallel market rate averages around ₦1,405 today. At ₦1,400/$: that's ₦8,400,000.

Nigerian Customs charges 20% duty, 15% levy, 7% surcharge, 0.5% CISS/ETL, 4% FCS, and 7.5% VAT on the fixed import value – which, combined with agent fees, puts your total clearing cost at roughly ₦3,200,000-₦3,500,000 for a 2016 Camry.

Total landed cost in June 2026: approximately ₦11,600,000 - ₦12,200,000.

Dealer price on Jiji right now: ₦15,500,000 - ₦18,500,000.

The gap: ₦3,300,000 to ₦6,900,000.

That gap is the dealer's profit. His agent's settlement. His showroom rent. His "connect" money.

It comes from ONE place: your pocket.

And it only exists because of ONE thing: you didn't know what the car actually cost.

Now you know.

The question my brother asked me in 2022 – "why didn't you teach me this before I paid?" – I can't unhear it.

So I built a system. The entire process, start to finish. Copart registration, bidding strategy, shipping, customs clearing, even the clearing agent contacts I've tested over 8 imports.

I put everything here: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible

₦35,000. Less than the fuel you'll burn driving to three dealerships this week.

But you'll never overpay a dealer again.

Before someone says "but Copart cars are accidented/salvage" – read the thread again.

My brother's car was CLEAN TITLE.

Copart sells clean-title cars too. Insurance write-offs, fleet vehicles, repossessions, trade-ins.

The damage filter I teach separates the profitable ones from the money pits. I learned that the hard way on my 3rd import when I lost ₦900k on a car with hidden frame damage.

That mistake is in the guide so you never repeat it.

Knowledge is power

Abi u would rather the car dealer go do banditry?

Na where man dey work, e dey chop, just as you want to sell us a guide on how to filter out accidented cars

After all said and done, how much is this your guide?

This is marvelous. It's an eye opener but also check higher interest loan from the bank. Where the money is being sourced.

Spot on.
It's even worse than this because majority of foreign used cars sold at dealerships in Nigeria are accidental or damaged eg flooded cars bought of Copart and the likes at auction, shipped and repaired in Nigeria and then sold at exorbitant prices.
If one has the patience and knows the process, it is always better to buy a clean vehicle and import

Somebody asked me in DM: "if I don't have ₦10-15 million to import, what's the point?"

The point is the SERVICE model.

You learn the system. Then you offer to import for OTHER people – your uncle, your boss, your colleague, your pastor.

They fund the import. You execute the process. You charge ₦500k-₦1 million per deal.

They STILL save ₦3-5 million compared to buying from a dealer.

You make ₦500k-₦1M without risking a single kobo of your own money.

One of my students, a teacher in Enugu, has done 3 imports for other people. She started with ₦340,000 in her account.

The system is at: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible if you want to see how she did it.

For those saying "this is too good to be true" or "there must be a catch" – The catch is WORK.

You have to learn how Copart works. You have to understand which damage types are fixable in Lagos for ₦100k and which ones will drain ₦2 million.

You have to communicate with shipping companies. You have to manage a clearing agent who might try to inflate his fees.

It's not magic. It's a SKILL.

The same way mechanics learned their trade, the same way programmers learned to code.

This is a learnable, repeatable process.

The guide walks you through every step. The Telegram group supports you while you execute.
But you still have to DO the work.

If you want someone to "handle everything" for you, go pay a dealer ₦18 million. That's the price of convenience.

If you want to save ₦5 million and learn a skill you can use for life (or turn into a ₦1.5M/month side business), the system is here: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible

Okay thank you

AccidentedCars:
For those saying "this is too good to be true" or "there must be a catch" – The catch is WORK.

You have to learn how Copart works. You have to understand which damage types are fixable in Lagos for ₦100k and which ones will drain ₦2 million.

You have to communicate with shipping companies. You have to manage a clearing agent who might try to inflate his fees.

It's not magic. It's a SKILL.

The same way mechanics learned their trade, the same way programmers learned to code.

This is a learnable, repeatable process.

The guide walks you through every step. The Telegram group supports you while you execute.
But you still have to DO the work.

If you want someone to "handle everything" for you, go pay a dealer ₦18 million. That's the price of convenience.

If you want to save ₦5 million and learn a skill you can use for life (or turn into a ₦1.5M/month side business), the system is here: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible

Do your math properly and convert it to naira the difference is not that much!

AccidentedCars:
The most expensive thing in Nigeria is not a car.

It's not knowing what the car ACTUALLY costs.

June 2022. My younger brother called me. Excited. Almost shaking.

He'd just paid ₦16.8 million for a 2016 Camry.

"Clean title. Family friend dealer. Just landed last week."

I was happy for him. Genuinely.

Then I asked for the VIN.

If you don't know, a VIN is a 17-character code on every car. Think of it like the car's BVN – unique, permanent, tracks everything.

I plugged that VIN into Copart, which is the largest auto auction platform in the United States.

Copart is publicly traded on NASDAQ. They connect global buyers and sellers, processing over 4 million transactions each year.

Same car. Same VIN. Sold 9 weeks earlier.

Winning bid: $4,350.

I did the math right there on my phone.

Shipping a car via RoRo from the US to Lagos typically costs around $1,350. The dealer probably paid around $1,600-$1,800 for shipping since SUVs and certain routes cost more.

On average, clearing a Tokunbo car in Nigeria costs between ₦2.5 million to ₦3 million.
So let's be generous. Let's give this dealer EVERY benefit of the doubt:

Car (Copart bid): $4,350 Copart fees: $650 Shipping to Lagos: $1,800 Total USD: $6,800

At the exchange rate back then (around ₦620/$), that's ₦4,216,000.

Customs + clearing: ₦3,000,000 (generous estimate).

Minor reconditioning: ₦200,000.

Dealer's TOTAL landed cost: approximately ₦7,416,000.

Let's even round up to ₦8 million for comfort.

My brother paid ₦16.8 million.

The "family friend" pocketed roughly ₦8.8 million.

On ONE car.

When I showed him the math, he went silent for about 40 seconds.

Then he said something that changed the way I think about everything:

"Why didn't you teach me this before I paid?"

That question has lived in my chest since 2022.

Now let me show you why it's even WORSE in 2026.

The current market price for a foreign-used 2016 Toyota Camry in Nigeria sits around ₦15,825,000. Dealers in Abuja and Lagos are listing them anywhere from

₦18,500,000 to ₦19,500,000 for XLE trims.
Meanwhile, the same car on Copart? Clean-title 2016 Camrys regularly sell for $3,000-$5,000.

Let me do the 2026 math for you.

Copart winning bid: $4,000 Copart buyer fees: $600 Shipping (RoRo to Lagos): $1,400 Total USD: $6,000

The current official exchange rate is approximately ₦1,363.83 per dollar.

The parallel market rate averages around ₦1,405 today. At ₦1,400/$: that's ₦8,400,000.

Nigerian Customs charges 20% duty, 15% levy, 7% surcharge, 0.5% CISS/ETL, 4% FCS, and 7.5% VAT on the fixed import value – which, combined with agent fees, puts your total clearing cost at roughly ₦3,200,000-₦3,500,000 for a 2016 Camry.

Total landed cost in June 2026: approximately ₦11,600,000 - ₦12,200,000.

Dealer price on Jiji right now: ₦15,500,000 - ₦18,500,000.

The gap: ₦3,300,000 to ₦6,900,000.

That gap is the dealer's profit. His agent's settlement. His showroom rent. His "connect" money.

It comes from ONE place: your pocket.

And it only exists because of ONE thing: you didn't know what the car actually cost.

Now you know.

The question my brother asked me in 2022 – "why didn't you teach me this before I paid?" – I can't unhear it.

So I built a system. The entire process, start to finish. Copart registration, bidding strategy, shipping, customs clearing, even the clearing agent contacts I've tested over 8 imports.

I put everything here: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible

₦35,000. Less than the fuel you'll burn driving to three dealerships this week.

But you'll never overpay a dealer again.

How often does a dealer sell a car?

With this your analysis you want comot food for people family mouth...

There'sGodoooooo

AccidentedCars:
Somebody asked me in DM: "if I don't have ₦10-15 million to import, what's the point?"

The point is the SERVICE model.

You learn the system. Then you offer to import for OTHER people – your uncle, your boss, your colleague, your pastor.

They fund the import. You execute the process. You charge ₦500k-₦1 million per deal.

They STILL save ₦3-5 million compared to buying from a dealer.

You make ₦500k-₦1M without risking a single kobo of your own money.

One of my students, a teacher in Enugu, has done 3 imports for other people. She started with ₦340,000 in her account.

The system is at: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible if you want to see how she did it.

I paid #36,450 instead of #35,000 you advertised here. I love honesty, you could have stated the hidden charges in your post.
I am still unable to get the DIY Import bible downloaded. After clicking the "request access", a page came up that they will verify and send me approval to access uptil now (over 2 hours) I receive nothing.

I don't understand another feature I am seeing, "upgrade with #197,500" to join the OS.

Please I have paid the N36,450, I just need the DIY Import bible and I hope I can still find truth in all this online things.
I will send you the receipt privately if you need it.

You go fear scammers for Nairaland.

Some greedy auto dealers are already condemning the thread for their own greed. Even the OP sef appears to be a scammer. You advertise your product for 35k but your website dey charge almost 37k.

Me do any business or conduct any transaction on Nairaland? NEVER!

Na siddon look I dey.

You dont need to buy any stupid book to import from copart. Is just like selling an ebook that guide users on how to ship from ali express. I bought my first car in 2021 from copart without buyinh any guide. All the information is available free online

telim:
You dont need to buy any stupid book to import from copart. Is just like selling an ebook that guide users on how to ship from ali express. I bought my first car in 2021 from copart without buyinh any guide. All the information is available free online

Good evening telim, if I beg you bot will ban me, I dont know what to say to avoid bot. pls taimakamin

gracias124:
Good evening telim, if I beg you bot will ban me, I dont know what to say to avoid bot. pls taimakamin

😂😂😂

telim:
You dont need to buy any stupid book to import from copart. Is just like selling an ebook that guide users on how to ship from ali express. I bought my first car in 2021 from copart without buyinh any guide. All the information is available free online

You are correct...i am currently learning it on my own.

Alkason:
😂😂😂

you too can do it nothing is too tiny, the guy ignored me

AccidentedCars:
The most expensive thing in Nigeria is not a car.

It's not knowing what the car ACTUALLY costs.

June 2022. My younger brother called me. Excited. Almost shaking.

He'd just paid ₦16.8 million for a 2016 Camry.

"Clean title. Family friend dealer. Just landed last week."

I was happy for him. Genuinely.

Then I asked for the VIN.

If you don't know, a VIN is a 17-character code on every car. Think of it like the car's BVN – unique, permanent, tracks everything.

I plugged that VIN into Copart, which is the largest auto auction platform in the United States.

Copart is publicly traded on NASDAQ. They connect global buyers and sellers, processing over 4 million transactions each year.

Same car. Same VIN. Sold 9 weeks earlier.

Winning bid: $4,350.

I did the math right there on my phone.

Shipping a car via RoRo from the US to Lagos typically costs around $1,350. The dealer probably paid around $1,600-$1,800 for shipping since SUVs and certain routes cost more.

On average, clearing a Tokunbo car in Nigeria costs between ₦2.5 million to ₦3 million.
So let's be generous. Let's give this dealer EVERY benefit of the doubt:

Car (Copart bid): $4,350 Copart fees: $650 Shipping to Lagos: $1,800 Total USD: $6,800

At the exchange rate back then (around ₦620/$), that's ₦4,216,000.

Customs + clearing: ₦3,000,000 (generous estimate).

Minor reconditioning: ₦200,000.

Dealer's TOTAL landed cost: approximately ₦7,416,000.

Let's even round up to ₦8 million for comfort.

My brother paid ₦16.8 million.

The "family friend" pocketed roughly ₦8.8 million.

On ONE car.

When I showed him the math, he went silent for about 40 seconds.

Then he said something that changed the way I think about everything:

"Why didn't you teach me this before I paid?"

That question has lived in my chest since 2022.

Now let me show you why it's even WORSE in 2026.

The current market price for a foreign-used 2016 Toyota Camry in Nigeria sits around ₦15,825,000. Dealers in Abuja and Lagos are listing them anywhere from

₦18,500,000 to ₦19,500,000 for XLE trims.
Meanwhile, the same car on Copart? Clean-title 2016 Camrys regularly sell for $3,000-$5,000.

Let me do the 2026 math for you.

Copart winning bid: $4,000 Copart buyer fees: $600 Shipping (RoRo to Lagos): $1,400 Total USD: $6,000

The current official exchange rate is approximately ₦1,363.83 per dollar.

The parallel market rate averages around ₦1,405 today. At ₦1,400/$: that's ₦8,400,000.

Nigerian Customs charges 20% duty, 15% levy, 7% surcharge, 0.5% CISS/ETL, 4% FCS, and 7.5% VAT on the fixed import value – which, combined with agent fees, puts your total clearing cost at roughly ₦3,200,000-₦3,500,000 for a 2016 Camry.

Total landed cost in June 2026: approximately ₦11,600,000 - ₦12,200,000.

Dealer price on Jiji right now: ₦15,500,000 - ₦18,500,000.

The gap: ₦3,300,000 to ₦6,900,000.

That gap is the dealer's profit. His agent's settlement. His showroom rent. His "connect" money.

It comes from ONE place: your pocket.

And it only exists because of ONE thing: you didn't know what the car actually cost.

Now you know.

The question my brother asked me in 2022 – "why didn't you teach me this before I paid?" – I can't unhear it.

So I built a system. The entire process, start to finish. Copart registration, bidding strategy, shipping, customs clearing, even the clearing agent contacts I've tested over 8 imports.

I put everything here: https://accidentedcars.com.ng/diy-import-bible

₦35,000. Less than the fuel you'll burn driving to three dealerships this week.

But you'll never overpay a dealer again.

Your write up is very unfounded and filled with misinformations.

Talking about copart auctions, its very easy for someone who has not bought a car on copart to do quick maths and say dealers are making so much off selling a car in a very competitive auto market.

First of all copart membership cost about $700.
After wining a bid on copart there are copart fees and other charges.
Wining a bid of about $4000 you would be paying about $800.
Most auction (salvaged) cars cannot be driven on US roads because they do not pass their state and federal road requirements.
So you have to truck to port. Trucking cost about $400 upwards depending on distance to from auctions site to nearest shipping port.

Roro shipping if its a run and drive
or
Container shipping if its a non starter. Costing about $1400-$1900.

Custom clearance in Lagos. - 3m-3.5m (using the car in question )

Mind you there are many unforseen expenses that may arise from when you buy the car and getting it to Lagos.

While im not justifying what tge dealer has dome im only trying to let you know that the cost of landing a car in Lagos is way more than what you just listed abd calculated.

DLuciano:
I paid #36,450 instead of #35,000 you advertised here. I love honesty, you could have stated the hidden charges in your post.
I am still unable to get the DIY Import bible downloaded. After clicking the "request access", a page came up that they will verify and send me approval to access uptil now (over 2 hours) I receive nothing.

I don't understand another feature I am seeing, "upgrade with #197,500" to join the OS.

Please I have paid the N36,450, I just need the DIY Import bible and I hope I can still find truth in all this online things.
I will send you the receipt privately if you need it.

I can confidently say that the DIY Import bible has now be downloaded. Very explicit and an eye opener to some vital information. I am satisfied.
Thanks alot.

Absolutely! A fantastic observation. Perfectly timed to highlight the value of a good deal. No fuss, a smooth transaction.

DLuciano:
I can confidently say that the DIY Import bible has now be downloaded. Very explicit and an eye opener to some vital information. I am satisfied.
Thanks alot.

@DLuciano

I owe you a proper response. And I respect that you came back to update your experience after downloading.

Let me address everything you raised because other buyers will have the same questions.

The extra ₦1,450 is the payment processing fee from Selar - the platform that handles the transaction. Think of it like POS charges when you pay at a store. I don't receive it. But I should have mentioned it upfront so it didn't catch you off guard. That's on me. I've updated things on my end so this doesn't surprise future buyers.

The access delay.

I personally verify every buyer before granting access. When you click "Request Access," your email comes to me and I cross-check it with purchase records to make sure you actually paid. That's how I keep freeloaders and scammers out of the system - the same way I keep the Telegram group clean.

Your request came through and I approved it as soon as I saw it. But I hear you - the wait can feel uncertain when you've just paid money online. I've improved the process so buyers know exactly what's happening and how long to expect.

The ₦197,500 upgrade (the Tokunbo OS) is not a hidden charge and it's not required.

The DIY Import Bible you purchased at ₦35,000 is the COMPLETE system. Registration, bidding, shipping, clearing, contacts, calculator, checklists, Telegram group - everything I promised on the sales page. Nothing is locked or missing.

The Tokunbo OS is a separate, advanced program for people who have completed their first import and want to turn car importing into a full-scale business - sourcing multiple cars per month, building a client base, managing logistics at volume. Think of the DIY Bible as learning to drive. The OS is for people who want to open a transport company.

You don't need it right now. Focus on the Bible first. Do your first import. Save your ₦5m. If you decide later that you want to scale this into a serious business, the OS will be there.

Now, your words.

You said "very explicit and an eye opener to some vital information. I am satisfied."

That means more to me than you know. Because you had every reason to walk away frustrated after the fee surprise and the access wait. The fact that you read the guide and STILL came back to say that tells me the content did its job.

Welcome to the Telegram group. Drop your first question whenever you're ready. I respond within 2-6 hours.

Okay

This 2025 Toyota Camry SE sold on Copart three days ago for $20,500.

I'm going to show you something that will either make you very quiet or very angry.

Probably both.

The car is at Copart Atlanta South. Lot #56638576. Florida title. 21,343 miles on the clock. That's not even run-in mileage. This car is basically new.

Black on black. SE trim. The new generation – the one that is ONLY hybrid now. 225 horsepower.

The one people are losing their minds over on the streets of Abuja right now.

It sold on June 23rd, 2026. Three days ago.

The damage is on the front right side.

Fender is pushed in. Headlight is gone. Bumper is hanging. That corner took a hit – a proper one.

But look at the rest of the car. The rear is untouched. The left side is untouched. The roof, the trunk, the wheels – everything else is sitting there like nothing happened.

This is a car that had one bad day. ONE.

Now look at the dashboard photo.

The car is ON. Not off. Not sitting there dead. It's running.

You can see "READY" glowing green on the left side of the cluster. For this generation Camry, that word means the hybrid system has booted up, the high-voltage battery is alive, the electric motor is communicating with the engine, and the car is ready to drive.

That single word – "READY" – is worth more than every other photo in this listing combined.

It tells you the most expensive part of this car (the hybrid system) survived the crash.

The odometer reads 21,343 miles. The range display says 320 miles remaining. Temperature is 74°F. The car is sitting in Park at 0 MPH.

There's a TPMS light on (tire pressure warning – probably because the impact affected the front right tire sensor). That's a ₦15,000 fix.

This car starts. This car runs. This car has a brain, and the brain is intact.

I need to be honest about something, though.

This is a 2025 model. The parts are NOT the same price as a 2018 Camry. You are not going to Ladipo and picking up a fender for ₦45,000.

A 2025 Camry SE headlight assembly, if you source it from a US parts vendor, is going to run you $400–$800. The fender, $200–$500. The bumper cover, $300–$600. Then you need labour, paint, alignment, and calibration for the front sensors.

Realistic repair budget: ₦1,500,000 to ₦3,000,000.

I'm not going to sugarcoat that.

But we're not talking about a ₦12 million car here. We're talking about a car that sells for ₦62 million and above in Asokoro. The repair cost is noise in comparison.

Here's the full math. I'm not rounding anything.

Winning bid: $20,500 Copart buyer fees (13%): $2,665 Shipping (Atlanta to Lagos, container): $1,800

Total USD: 24,965 Customs exchange rate right now: ₦1,450/24,965

Converted: ₦36,200,000

Now here is where it gets heavy.

This is a 2025 model. Customs does not treat this like your uncle's 2016 Camry. This is classified closer to a new vehicle. The duty structure is different – higher.

Budget for customs, clearing, agent fees, terminal charges, the whole port experience: ₦18,000,000 to ₦22,000,000.

I'm not guessing.

That range accounts for the VIN valuation Customs will generate, the current exchange rate, and the reality that newer cars attract higher assessed values.

Add repairs: ₦1,500,000 to ₦3,000,000.

Total landed cost: ₦55,700,000 to ₦61,200,000.

A dealer in Asokoro is selling this same car – 2025 Camry SE, foreign used – for ₦82 million.

Another dealer listed the XSE at ₦62 million.

One listing hit ₦105 million.

The gap between your DIY landed cost and what a dealer will charge you?

₦20 million to ₦44 million.

I need you to read that again.

₦20 MILLION to ₦44 MILLION.

That's not a car markup. That's a house in some parts of this country.

I'll be fair. The dealer's cost is not just the car. He paid for failed bids. He's paying rent on that showroom in Wuse. He's absorbing exchange rate risk. His money was tied up for 3 months before you walked in.

That's all real.

But the question is simple: is that convenience worth ₦20 to ₦44 million to YOU?

Because the car itself costs ₦56–₦61 million to land.

Everything above that is the price of not knowing the process.

I've imported 8 cars since 2021. Saved ₦41.6 million total. Built a system around it. Every fee, every form, every agent, every mistake I made – documented.

I'm not selling cars. I'm selling the knowledge so you never overpay again.

It's called the DIY Import Bible. ₦35,000.

One-time. 14-day guarantee.

Inside: Copart registration (one checkbox 99% of people miss), the damage filter, the bid formula, tested clearing agent contacts, a cost calculator, and a private Telegram group where I answer questions within 2–6 hours.

You either save ₦20 million on your next car, make ₦1 million importing for someone else, or you get your ₦35,000 back.

Link in bio.

In about 10 weeks, this Camry will be sitting in a Lagos or Abuja showroom.

Someone will clean it up, fix the fender, replace the headlight, polish the paint until it shines.

Then they'll write "ACCIDENT FREE, FULL OPTION, BRAND NEW" on the windshield.

And some guy who worked 14-hour days for 3 years to save ₦82 million will hand over every naira of it.

He won't know the car sold on Copart for $20,500.

He won't know the "READY" light was glowing green in a warehouse in Atlanta three months ago.

He won't know any of this.

Unless he reads this thread first.

Somebody's uncle in Lekki is about to pay ₦35 million for a 2016 Lexus RX 350 this month.

The same car just sold on Copart Houston two days ago for $12,600.

Twelve thousand, six hundred dollars.

Let me show you the numbers.

The car. 2016 Lexus RX 350. Lot #56945786. Copart Houston, Texas. Sold June 26th, 2026.

Nebula Gray. 91,525 actual miles. 3.5L V6. The same engine that made Lexus the most trusted luxury brand on Nigerian roads.

Estimated retail value according to Copart: $20,164.

It sold for $12,600.

The damage is on the front end. And I'm not going to downplay it.

This is not a small bumper crack. The front of this car took a proper hit. Both headlights are off – they've been removed and placed on the ground beside the car. The bumper is gone. The grille is gone. The hood has a visible crease. Both front fenders have damage, worse on the driver side.

Look at the photos. The front is stripped down to the metal.

But now look at the rest.

The rear? Spotless body. Not a single dent. The taillights are sitting perfectly. The Lexus badge is untouched. The chrome strip across the back is clean. Yes, the rear bumper cover has been removed too, but the body underneath has zero damage.

The sides? Clean. The doors shut properly. The glass is intact all round. The alloy wheels are in good shape. Even the tires still have tread.

From the B-pillar backwards, this car looks like it just rolled off the lot.

Now let me talk about the dashboard because this is where the story gets interesting.

The car is ON. You can see it. The gauges are alive. The RPM needle is sitting at zero because the car is in Park. The odometer reads 91,525 miles.

But there are two things on that dashboard you need to pay attention to.

First: Forward Camera System Unavailable. That message makes complete sense. The front camera lives in the area behind the grille – which is currently sitting in a junkyard in Houston. Once you replace the bumper assembly and camera module, this message clears.

Second: there's a yellow triangle warning light. This could be anything from a loose sensor wire (because the front end is stripped) to something more serious. You would need a diagnostic scan after repairs to know exactly what it's flagging.

I'm not going to tell you nothing is wrong. The car took a front hit. There will be fault codes. The question is whether those codes clear after the damaged parts are replaced, or whether they point to something deeper.

The engine bay. Open the photo.

The 3.5L V6 is sitting right where Lexus put it. No displacement. No visible lean. The engine cover has been removed but the block itself, the intake manifold, the accessory belts – everything appears in position.

What I CAN'T tell you from photos: whether the radiator is cracked, whether the AC condenser is punctured, whether the front crash structure behind that bumper reinforcement bar is bent or pushed back.

Those are real concerns on a front-end hit this heavy. And they affect your repair cost directly.

Here's the math.

Final bid: $12,600 Copart buyer fees (13%): $1,638 Shipping (Houston to Lagos, container): $1,900

Total USD: 16,138
Customs exchange rate:₦1,450/16,138 Converted: ₦23,400,000

Now the clearing. And this is where Lexus hurts your pocket.

Customs treats Lexus differently from Toyota. It's classified as luxury. The duty structure is heavier. The CIF valuation is higher. The levy is higher. Everything is higher.

For a 2016 RX 350, budget ₦5,000,000 to ₦6,500,000 for customs duty, clearing agent fees, terminal charges, and all the port wahala combined.

Now repairs. This front end needs real work. We're not talking Ladipo specials. We're talking headlights, fenders, bumper, grille, hood, possibly radiator, possibly condenser, sensors, camera module, calibration, paint.

Repair budget (honest): ₦2,000,000 to ₦4,000,000 depending on whether you source parts from the US or locally, and depending on what's hiding behind that stripped front end.

Total landed cost: ₦30,400,000 to ₦33,900,000

A dealer in Lekki is selling a 2016 Lexus RX 350 – accident free, fully loaded – for ₦35 million right now.

Another one in Surulere has the same car listed at ₦49.6 million.

In Abuja? ₦36.7 million.

Your DIY cost? ₦30.4M to ₦33.9M.

The savings on this one are tighter than the Camry. I'm being honest with you. On a good day, you're saving ₦1M to ₦5M. On a bad day – if repairs run to ₦4M and the dealer was asking ₦35M – you're barely breaking even.

This is exactly why the bid formula exists. Not every car is a home run. Some cars save you ₦9 million. Some save you ₦2 million. And some, if you don't calculate properly, save you nothing.

The system isn't about gambling. It's about knowing the numbers BEFORE you bid so you never lose.

But here's what makes this car worth talking about anyway.

The Lexus RX 350 is the MOST requested luxury SUV in Nigeria. Every second person who messages me about my guide is asking about the RX. It's the car every successful man in Abuja wants in his compound. It's the car every woman in Lekki wants to drive to pick up her kids from school.

If you learn this system and you start doing imports for other people – which my guide teaches you how to do – the RX 350 is your bread and butter. Because demand NEVER dries up.

One student of mine charges ₦1.5M to source and manage an RX 350 import for a client. The client still saves ₦3M compared to the dealer. Everybody is happy.

That's the service model. You don't need your own ₦30M. You need someone else's ₦30M and a system that works.

The system is called the DIY Import Bible. ₦35,000. One-time. 14-day money-back guarantee. Private Telegram group where I answer questions within 2-6 hours.

Link in bio.

In about 10 weeks, this exact RX 350 will be parked in someone's showroom.

New headlights. New bumper. New fenders. Fresh paint. Detailed interior.

The dealer will lean against it, cross his arms, and tell the next customer: "This one is accident free o. Tear rubber. ₦36 million, last price."

And the customer will nod, negotiate to ₦34 million, and think he got a deal.

He didn't get a deal. He got a story.

The car was on Copart Houston five days ago with no bumper and no headlights.

Now you know. What you do with it is your business.

Mountbatten:
Nobody's buying your book lil' bro. You don't need a book to learn how to do this

If you've never spent ₦35m on a car, it will feel like nothing to you. But the man about to hand a dealer ₦35m for a car that can be landed for ₦31m would disagree. This thread isn't for everybody. It's for the person about to write that cheque.

This 2019 Lexus RX 350 L sold on Copart Atlanta three days ago for $13,600.

While you are saving up ₦45m to pay a dealer in Abuja for the extended version of this car, someone just landed it for a total of ₦35m.

That is a ₦10m difference.

Let me show you how it happened.

1/

First, you need to understand that this is the RX 350 L.

The "L" is for the extended body. It has three rows of seats. It’s the one big families and Big Men in Nigeria go for because of that extra space.

Because of that "L," dealers add an extra ₦5 million to ₦7m on the price tag compared to the standard RX.

This one sold on June 26th for $13,600. That’s about ₦20.4m before fees and shipping.

2/

Let’s look at the damage. It’s listed as a front-end hit.

The bumper is completely off. If you swipe to the last photo, you’ll see the bumper assembly just lying there on the ground in the dirt.

The hood is crumpled at the tip. The driver-side fender is pushed in. The headlights are off the car.

It looks scattered, as we say in Nigeria. But look closely at the radiator support and the engine bay. Everything is still sitting in its original position. The core structure doesn't look pushed back.

3/

Now, look at the dashboard.

The car is ON. The gauges are glowing.

There is a message that says: "Lane Keeping Assist Malfunction. Visit Your Dealer."

Most JJC buyers see that and run away. They think the car is broken.

But look at the photo of the bumper on the ground again. The sensors and the radar module for the Lane Keeping system live inside that bumper.

The car isn't broken. It’s just telling you it can't find its eyes because they are currently lying in the sand in Atlanta. Once you fix that bumper and plug those sensors back in, that message disappears.

4/

The odometer reads 116,980 miles.

For a Lexus 3.5L V6, that is just the beginning of its life. These engines are built to do 300,000 miles before they even start to complain.

The interior is clean. The leather is intact. The three rows of seats are pristine. You are looking at a luxury SUV that had one bad afternoon in Georgia traffic.

5/

Let’s do the real math – the one that makes dealers stay awake at night.

Winning Bid: $13,600 Copart Fees: $1,800 Shipping (Atlanta to Lagos): $1,900

Total USD: 17,300 At ₦1,500/17,300: ₦25,950,000

Customs & Clearing for a 2019 RX 350 L: ₦6.5M to ₦7.5M. Repairs (New-spec 2019 bumper, hood, fender, paint): ₦2.5M.

Total Landed Cost: ₦35,950,000.

6/

A dealer in Abuja or Lagos is pricing a Foreign Used 2019 RX 350 L anywhere between ₦42M and ₦48M right now.

Let’s use ₦45M as the average.

The gap? ₦9M.

You could buy this car, fix it with original parts, drive it for a year, and still sell it for more than what you spent to land it.

That is the power of the "L" version. The demand is massive, but the auction price is often lower because people are scared of the front-end bodywork.

7/

But I’ll be honest with you.

Lexus parts are expensive. If you buy a car like this and you don’t know how to check if the radar module survived the crash, you might spend an extra ₦600k just on that one sensor.

That is why I tell people: stop guessing.

I’ve imported 8 cars. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t have to.

I have a ₦35,000 guide called the DIY Import Bible that teaches you how to do this yourself. From registration to the final clearing. Link in bio.

8/

But if you are ready to bid THIS WEEK and you don't want to risk ₦10m on a bad decision, I offer a Selection Service.

You send me the lot number. I vet the VIN. I check the history. I tell you if that Lane Assist warning is just a sensor or a total system failure. I give you the Max Bid so you don't overpay like a JJC.

My fee is ₦75,000.

One bad car can cost you ₦2m in hidden repairs. One review from me prevents that.

9/

In about 10 weeks, this white Lexus will be sitting on a tiled floor in a showroom.

The bumper will be perfectly aligned. The paint will be polished until you can use it as a mirror.

The dealer will tell you: "Oga, this one is clean title. Direct from America. No single accident."

And because you didn't see these photos today, you'll believe him.

You'll pay ₦45m and thank him for the deal.

Don't be that guy. Learn the system or hire a specialist.

I hope you've learned a thing or two.

Now, let's get back to work.

I hope you’ve seen the news.

As of July 1st, the Federal Government has officially slashed import duties.

For used vehicles (tokunbo), it has dropped from 15% down to 5%.

For brand new cars, it’s down from 20% to 10%.

Let me tell you what this actually means for you as a student of the DIY Import Bible.

If you were planning to import a 2016 Lexus RX 350 or a 2019 Camry, your clearing cost just dropped by anywhere from ₦1.8 million to ₦3.5 million.

That is money that was going to the government last week, but today, it stays in your bank account.

But I need you to listen to me carefully.

Do not expect dealer prices in Lagos or Abuja to drop by ₦3 million tomorrow morning.

Most of them are still sitting on “old stock.” They paid the old high duties. They will try to keep their prices high to recoup their money. Others will simply keep their prices high because they know most Nigerians don’t read the news.

They will tell you “clearing is still expensive.” They will tell you “the naira is weak.” They will use every bit of Dealer Grammar to make you pay 2025 prices for 2026 cars.

But you are in this group. You have the new math.

I am updating the Landed Cost Calculator today to reflect these new 5% and 10% rates.

I am also adding a new video to the Vault explaining how to confirm your agent is actually using these new rates and not “eating” the difference.

If you’ve been waiting to bid, now is the time.

The gap between what a dealer will charge and what it costs you to land the car yourself just got wider.

I’m doing the work to make sure you have the correct figures by this evening.

Stay ready.

We’ve got cars to move.

yanjoo64:
Your write up is very unfounded and filled with misinformations.

Talking about copart auctions, its very easy for someone who has not bought a car on copart to do quick maths and say dealers are making so much off selling a car in a very competitive auto market.

First of all copart membership cost about $700.
After wining a bid on copart there are copart fees and other charges.
Wining a bid of about $4000 you would be paying about $800.
Most auction (salvaged) cars cannot be driven on US roads because they do not pass their state and federal road requirements.
So you have to truck to port. Trucking cost about $400 upwards depending on distance to from auctions site to nearest shipping port.

Roro shipping if its a run and drive
or
Container shipping if its a non starter. Costing about $1400-$1900.

Custom clearance in Lagos. - 3m-3.5m (using the car in question )

Mind you there are many unforseen expenses that may arise from when you buy the car and getting it to Lagos.

While im not justifying what tge dealer has dome im only trying to let you know that the cost of landing a car in Lagos is way more than what you just listed abd calculated.

They think dealers make fortune from selling those cars, I have a 2017 presently that I put out for even below 12m and it's been neglected because they think it's expensive not knowing that the amount is just the total landing cost.